W. D Ross Deontological Theory

The notions of philosophical ethics are created with the intention of allowing us to choose the morally right option within a situation. However, when it comes to the application of these ethics to real life, the results do not always end up to be that way. This is especially the case within the notions of biomedical ethics. A health care provider must not only take account of what the ethically right thing to do is, but more importantly what is the best course of action is in regards to bettering a patient’s life. Lying to patients in the medical field is entirely unacceptable. When doctors are faced with uncomfortable situations they utilize other modes of disclosure, such as deception, as a way to disclose important information to their patient in a way that will best benefit their wellbeing and maintain a strong patient-physician relationship. Given the scenario of a patient with azoospermia and a fiancée who has just …show more content…
Taking note of the main deontological theory as proposed by Kant that one must follow a categorical imperative always without any deviation, Ross conceives of a theory that is less demanding on us as moral agents. According to Kant’s categorical imperative, we have “perfect duties require us to do or abstain from certain acts, and there are no legitimate exceptions to them.” Following this line of reasoning, the doctor in this case would be obligated to tell the patient absolutely everything about his diagnosis of azoospermia, even possibly down to the detail his daughter cannot be his. However, in cases such as this, it is not morally acceptable to think to disclose such damaging information to the patient. It is here that Ross proposes the use of prima facie duties as Kantian deontology is far too rigid for the field of